145 



Hab. In India orientali ; apud montes Madurae. Koenig. — 

 Wight, M. D. 



The very remarkable and beautiful grass here figured, was 

 sent to me by Dr. Wight, in one of his many valuable com- 

 munications, from the East Indies. It was marked, " the 

 most curious of an interesting and extensive natural family. 

 The accompanying specimens were gathered by Koenig. I 

 also found the same plant, but do not at present recollect the 

 habitat. I think it was in the mountainous parts of the 

 Madura district." When I came to examine these speci- 

 mens, with the view to their publication, I was mortified to 

 find that those most singular flowers, which so much re- 

 sembled birds' heads, contained nothing within them; except, 

 in some instances, a small body, which may perhaps be con- 

 sidered the abortive organs of the flower, and in one, where 

 I saw feathery stigmas, but less distinctly than I could wish. 



I consulted Dr. Wallich, wishing to know if he had speci- 

 mens of the grass in his immense herbarium, and whether, if 

 it should prove new, it might not with propriety bear the 

 name of our mutual friend. Dr. Wight. In reply to the 

 former question, I had the satisfaction to learn that in Dr. 

 Wight's department of the East India Company's herbarium, 

 there existed very fine specimens of this grass, which, 

 with the other GraminecB, were confided to Mr. Brown's 

 care, for examination and publication. They afforded 

 individuals with seed, which were obligingly forwarded 

 to me, together with the opinion, both of Mr. Brown and 

 Dr. Wallich, that the genus was altogether new. I had 

 the farther gratification to learn, that a noble East Indian 

 plant, of the Nat. Ord. BignoniacecB* had just been dedicated 

 to Dr. Wight by Dr. Wallich, who kindly suggested to me 

 that the grass in question might bear the name of his late 

 friend and preceptor, Mr. Holboel, f who was gardener at 



* See the Plantce ^siatica Eariores, t. 81. 

 •(• The former Holboellia of Wallich, is now ascertained to be a species of 

 Stauntonia; its affinity to which was alluded to, when it was published in the 

 Tentamen Florce Nepalensis lllustratcB, Fasc. 1. p. 23. " Genus," says Dr. 



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